CHAMOMILE

CHAMOMILE

Matricaria recutita

It is an annual herb belonging to the daisy family.

It can grow in wastelands or crops.

Chemically consists of carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamin C, organic acids, essential oils such as azulene, alpha-bisaboloid, chamazulene, farnesene cadideno, furfural, matricarina, matricin, sesquiterpenes and bisaboloid oxids.

Also contain alcohols such as farnesol, borneol and geraniol as well as antemic acid and flavonoids apigenin, hyperoside, apigetrina, patuletina, jaceidina, axilarina, apiína, quercetin, rutin and coumarins.

Chamomile tea, brewed from dried flowers heads, is used traditionally for several medicinal purposes as gatrintestinal tract ailments as flatulence, nervous diarrea, spams, colitis, gastritis, and hemorrhoids.

Other uses nasal mucous membrane inflammation, allergic rinitis, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, restlessness, insomnia, dismemorrhea, mastitis, and varicose ulcers.

Several reports have appeared in the literature about the toxic effects of chamomile. It has been observed that orally chamomile tea can uses allergic reactions including severe hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals.  

 

NOPAL

NOPAL / Opuntia ficus-indica

Nopal is a wild plant that survives in cold desert regions. It requires a lot of water for cultivation, live in arid or semi-arid. Is said to have an important ecological role, as it stops deforested land degradation, becomes unproductive land productive.

 

Nutritional properties

With respect to the nutritional value of nopal, one can say that in 1 cup of raw nopal (86 g approximately) are 2.9 g of carbohydrates and 1.1 g of protein and only 14 kcal. But its main attraction is that it contains a lot of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble): 2 g of fiber in a cup. Insoluble fiber can prevent and relieve constipation and hemorrhoids at the same time prevent the development of colon cancer. Soluble fiber has been used in many conditions because their presence retards the gastrointestinal tract and absorption of nutrients makes these do not pass the blood quickly. Are also a good source of calcium, and that 100 g of cactus, there are approximately 80 mg of calcium.

Medicinal properties

It has been shown in several studies, mainly conducted in Mexico, the medicinal property has the cactus.

Obesity. It has become fashionable in all diets will take a cactus with orange juice or some other fruit. This is based on that, thanks to the large amount of fiber having this plant, help delay the time at which the nutrients are absorbed and enter the blood and thus facilitates their removal

Diabetes and hyperglycemia. There is also talk that helps people with diabetes. The nopal increases levels and insulin sensitivity thus achieving stabilize and regulate the level of blood sugar. It has been scientifically proven hypoglycemic power cactus, that is, as an effective treatment for the prevention of diabetes.

Cholesterol. In people with high cholesterol has been shown that consumption of nopal, helps eliminate absorbed preventing much of it and so does not accumulate in veins and arteries. Amino acids, fiber and niacin contained in nopal prevent excess blood sugar becomes fat, while on the other hand, acts metabolizing fat and fatty acids and cholesterol lowering.

Antibiotic property. The nopales are natural antibiotics, this property is related to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, which, in the cactus inhibits or stops the growth of several bacterial species.

Cinnamomum verum

LOCAL NAMES

Creole (kanèl); English (cinnamon tree,true cinnamon,ceylon cinnamon); French (cannelle,cannellier,cennellier de Ceylon); Hindi (elavagnum,vayana,karu va,karuwa,twak); Indonesian (kayu manis); Luganda (budalasini); Malay (kayu manis); Spanish (canelero,canela legítima,canela); Trade name (cinnamon)

BOTANIC DESCRIPTION

Cinnamomum verum is an evergreen tree that reaches a height of 8-17 m in the wild. In an unharvested state, the trunk is stout, 30-60 cm in diameter, with a thick, grey bark and the branches set low down. Leaves stiff, extipulate, opposite, somewhat variable in form and size. Petiole 1-2 cm long, grooved on the upper surface. Lamina usually 5-18 x 3-10 cm, ovate or elliptic; base more or less rounded and the tip tends to be somewhat acuminate. The young leaves of the flush are reddish, later turning dark green above with paler veins and pale glaucous beneath. Flowers borne in lax axillary and terminal panicles on the ends of twigs. Peduncles creamy white, softly hairy, 5-7 cm long. Individual flowers very small, about 3 mm in diameter, pale yellow, with a foetid smell, each subtended by a small, ovate, hairy bract. The calyx is campanulate and pubescent with 6 acutely pointed segments. Corolla absent. Fruit a fleshy ovoid drupe, black, 1.5-2 cm long when ripe, with the enlarged calyx at the base.

The etymology of cinnamon is derived from the Greek word ‘kinnamomon’ (meaning spice). The Greeks borrowed the word from the Phoenicians, indicating trade with the East from early times. Cinnamon is recorded in Sanskrit, the Old Testament, and in Greek medicinal works and was employed by the Egyptians for embalming purposes as early as 1485 BC. A species synonym, ‘zeylanicum’, refers to the place of origin, the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

MEDICINE

Cinnamon bark oil is employed in dental and pharmaceutical preparations. Historically, cinnamon drops were regarded as a tonic, a sedative in childbirth, and a remedy for many common disorders. Cinnamon served as a breath sweetener in the past. In medieval times, cinnamon was distilled to produce cordials, ostensibly to aid in digestion. In the Orient, cinnamon and its near relatives are still widely used for local remedies, particularly for gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders and as an aphrodisiac. In the Philippines and the Pacific, it is taken to relieve headache. In Colombia, cinnamon sticks are chewed to speed parturition. In Ghana, barks of young shoots are used as a carminative and to treat catarrh (coryza), and the bark extract is an intestinal astringent. In Haiti, the essence is used as a poultice for rheumatism and is taken orally for spasms and for stomach and intestinal gas.

Laurel leaves

The leaves, the symbol of victory with health claims. Bay leaves come from a shrub native to Asia Minor, where it was not so important as when it was marketed in the Mediterranean region, where the Greeks received important meanings and uses. The flavor of the leaves is very distinctive, slightly spicy and slightly bitter. Bay leaves have a very smooth surface and is an olive green color. A leaf can be measured from 2.5 cm. up to 7cm.
Laurel leaves have many uses throughout history. In competitive events, they are used to distinguish the victors. Both in the Olympics as events which highlighted poets, thinkers and heroes of war, and featured winners were crowned with a garland of laurel leaves.
In ancient Greece, laurel leaf symbolized the victory but their uses were not merely symbolic, the Greeks used the leaf to heal insect bites and thus began to discover some of the properties and uses of the bay. The flavor and aroma of the bay are basically balsamic with a touch of fresh, sweet and spicy. Used in marinades with vinegar, because it softens the flavor.
In the kitchen is widely used in all European countries: blue fish marinades, marinated, pickled vegetables, sprigs of herbs to soups, stews, in the sauce, custard.

The plant

It grows wild as a shrub, but pruned over the years would grow like a tree. Its leaves are evergreen, dark colored vede its tiny flowers are very fragrant.

Parts of the plant used

Used both as tender leaves, but almost always used as the leaves is dry, when the flavor is softer. The young leaves are very bitter and are only used in marinades with vinegar, because it softens the flavor. They are also used off.

What is the laurel and blades?

Today it is known that the bay has many health giving properties. Consume laurel leaves promotes good digestion since they facilitate the breakdown of proteins and also relieve many stomach ailments, the laurel leaf oil is used to treat sprains, swelling and mild muscle aches to slather on the affected areas.

Reduce sugar levels and health benefits of the skin

People suffering from diabetes can benefit from one of the uses of laurel, help the body reduce blood sugar and insulin process. Furthermore, compounds of the leaves have astringent properties, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. Laurel These properties can be applied to treat skin problems like acne and other minor infections.

 

Vitamins and minerals in the bay leaves

The laurel leaves can be added to various dishes that are consumed daily and this ensures a good proportion of vitamins and minerals. Laurel leaves are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and manganese. Contain parthenolide, a chemical used to combat headaches and migraine. Aromatic components laurel leaves have insect repellent properties and disperse the leaves inside cupboards and shelves where food is stored, prevents approaching insects like cockroaches, fruit moths and flies.

Indications and medicinal uses of Laurel

Leaves Active Ingredients: essential oil, cineole, engenol, lactone sesquiceneol, tannins.
Fruit Active components: essential oil: cineol, pinene, linalool, geraniol, rabinero, limonene, caufeno, p-cymene, sesquiterpene lactones, lauric acid glycerides, oleic, palmitic, linoleic.
Indicated to treat anorexia, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal spasms, bloating, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, asthma.

Recipes with laurel

• Puree vegetables
• Celery Soup
• Tomato Soup
• egg and lemon soup
• Lentils
• Gazpacho Manchego

Big benefits in an aromatic infusion

To improve digestion, reduce gas and soothe upset stomachs, one bay leaf tea after a heavy meal is a good solution. This will put water on the fire and removed immediately after it begins to boil, add two or three laurel leaves per cup of water. The infusion was allowed to stand for 15 minutes and serve. If this infusion is taken before a meal, because of its compounds that help the body process insulin, can be used to help reduce levels of blood sugar. And since the laurel contains eugenol, a compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial, the infusion can be used to make compresses that when placed on the chest helps relieve cough and other cold symptoms, they can also gargle for enhance the benefits.

Contraindications and side effects of laurel

Care should be taken not to ingest laurel oil as it can cause irritation. Laurel oil must always be diluted and used in small quantities. When applied to the skin, the oil can stain and pregnant women should avoid its use as it is believed that the oil extracted from the berries of laurel was used in medieval times to induce abortion. The leaves should be taken with plenty of water and preferably in small pieces to swallow since complete could obstruct the digestive tract or the respiratory tract and cause internal damage or impede respiration, respectively. Although there is not sufficient scientific evidence is not recommended that pregnant women and lactating ingest laurel leaf tea.